Summary: Live music Cape Town restaurants include venues offering jazz, acoustic performances, singer-songwriters, bands, DJs and themed music nights alongside dinner and drinks. Popular areas include the City Bowl, V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, Hout Bay and the Southern Suburbs. Music schedules vary by venue, so diners should confirm performance times, booking requirements and any cover charges before visiting.
Looking for the best live music Cape Town restaurants have to offer? Cape Town’s dining scene is not only about great food and wine. Across the city, restaurants, bars and hotel venues regularly combine their menus with live performances, creating an easy way to turn dinner into a full evening out. From acoustic sets and jazz to singer-songwriters, DJs, cover bands and laid-back Sunday sessions, restaurants with live music in Cape Town offer something for a wide range of moods. Some venues focus on intimate performances during dinner, while others create a more energetic atmosphere later in the evening. Popular areas for live music Cape Town restaurants include the City Bowl, Kloof Street, Bree Street, the V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, Hout Bay, the Southern Suburbs and parts of the Northern Suburbs. The style of music can differ just as much as the food, with everything from contemporary local acts and jazz to classic hits, acoustic covers and themed entertainment nights.
Live music can make a restaurant especially appealing for date nights, birthday dinners, group outings or relaxed weekend plans. Instead of choosing between dinner and entertainment, diners can enjoy both in the same place, often with cocktails, wine or sharing plates adding to the experience. Some restaurants offer live music on specific nights of the week, while others host performances as part of special events, Sunday lunches, sunset sessions or seasonal programmes. Hotel restaurants and rooftop venues may also combine live entertainment with views over the city or Atlantic Seaboard, making them popular for sundowners followed by dinner.
The best option depends on the kind of evening you are looking for. A casual acoustic set may suit a relaxed dinner, while a lively band or DJ can be better for groups wanting to stay out later. Jazz evenings and more intimate performances are also popular for diners looking for a quieter, more atmospheric night out. Many Cape Town restaurants with live music also run food or drink promotions alongside their entertainment. These may include happy-hour cocktails, set menus, sharing platters, wine specials or dinner packages linked to a particular performance. Because live entertainment schedules can change from week to week, it is always worth checking the latest programme before visiting. Start times, cover charges and booking requirements can vary, and some performances may only run on selected dates.
Popular live music venues can also fill up quickly, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings, so reservations are recommended where possible. Browse the latest live music Cape Town restaurants below to discover upcoming performances, regular music nights and restaurant events across the city.
The Lookout Deck Hout Bay, along with Rolling Audio, are hosting an Ard Matthews performance you don’t want to miss! Taking place on the 28th of July, Ard Matthews of Just Jinger fame, will be gracing the Look Out Deck stage. A South African music legend, Ard has honed his craft as a singer and songwriter over the last […] More
A renowned Cape Town musician, Jeremy Loops is known for his powerful live performances and his chart-topping local success. An act whose career has grown from strength to strength since his international breakout year in 2015. He opened for Twenty One Pilots on the road, headlined a sold-out 30,000-ticket tour of his own, and his music […] More
The story of Gypsy Jazz! Join Auslese for an exciting Gypsy Jazz journey with The Hot Club of Cape Town playing the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli on the 3rd of August. It’s only R300 per person and includes music and light snacks, while a cash bar is also available for the more thirsty among you. Venue: […] More
On Saturday the 30th of June, The Lookout Deck Hout Bay will be hosting Watershed for a live performance! In partnership with Rolling Audio and Stella Artois, The Lookout Deck presents Watershed Live in Hout Bay. An iconic South African band, Watershed first hit the scene with their 2000 hit “Indigo Girl”. One of South Africa’s […] More
On Sunday the 1st of July, Grand Africa Café and Beach welcomes you to see GoldFish perform live! Always a spectacular venue for live music, Grand Africa Café and Beach will be hosting one of South Africa’s most exciting acts. DJs will start the day at 2pm, with GoldFish coming onto the stage in the early evening. […] More
Every Tuesday evening from the 1st of May to the 28th of August Quay Four will be hosting Battle of the Bands! Back by popular demand, Battle of the Bands at Quay Four is now open for band entries. Entries are free and the 2018 prizes up for grabs include: R20 000 cash prize compliments […] More
The Lookout Deck presents Arno Carstens Intimate Sessions! The Lookout Deck Hout Bay in Association with DARG & the NSRI Hout Bay presents Arno Carstens – The Intimate Sessions – With Corona Sunsets This intimate performance on the 19th of May includes the hits from his career as front man of The Springbok Nude Girls, […] More
Mathew Mole fan? Don’t miss the chance to catch one of South Africa’s most renowned young musicians perform the songs that gained him international acclaim at the Franschhoek Cellar. After last year’s hugely popular Matthew Mole show, the musician has been welcomed back to perform for a lucky few. An intimate show in a relaxed […] More
Every Thursday Harringtons Cocktail Lounge along with Lee Thomson & Studio 7 invite the coolest muso’s from around Cape Town and abroad to play a double header of their freshest tunes, complimented by incredible tapas and craft made cocktails, curtesy of the epic Harrie’s mixologists. What’s happening at Harrington’s on Thursdays 5-7pm Harry’s Happy Hour on Classic Cocktails, Glass […] More
It’s time to chillout and relax in style in The Glass Lounge at The Cape Milner. The centrally located hotel has joined the ever-popular First Thursdays initiative and will be launching Birth of Cool DJ Sessions on 1 March 2018. Cape Town residents and guests alike can look forward to a laidback evening with killer […] More
Fancy something a bit different for a Sunday? Bored of making that roast and doing those dishes? Yes? So come, chill out with a picnic and listen to some great muso’s get their groove on at Boschendal. Boschendal are proud to support local talent, and we have carefully selected a diverse range of different acts, […] More
Watch ShenFM Live at Cantina Tequila! Shen loves mixing in African ethnic and world samples in to the mix, it’s no wonder he has such a love for this type of music from spending his childhood in the extremes of Southern Africa’s landscapes absorbing indigenous sounds and immersing himself in the rural rhythms of the […] More